"This is nice," Savannah admitted, glancing around.
Mallory smirked. "It is. And the best part? You’re in prime position to make eyecontact with the hot guy by the bar."
Savannah groaned. "Would you stop?"
Mallory propped her chin in her hand, feigning innocence. "What? I’m just pointing out the obvious."
Savannah shook her head, taking a sip of her drink, trying to focus on the view rather than the possibility of some ‘ridiculously hot guy’ lurking nearby. She wasn’t here for that. She wasn’t here for any of it.
Mallory, however, was relentless.
"Okay, okay, serious question," Mallory said, swirling the ice in her glass. "When was the last time you actually had fun? I mean, real, no-strings, no-reservations fun?"
Savannah frowned. "I have fun."
Mallory shot her a look. "Binge-watching crime documentaries with a glass of wine doesn’t count."
Savannah hesitated, then exhaled. "It’s been a while."
"Exactly," Mallory said triumphantly. "Which is why I am officially your designated bad influence for this trip. And step one? You stop overthinking and just enjoy yourself."
Savannah smirked. "You realize you sound like a bad rom-com character, right?"
Mallory grinned. "And yet, I’m not wrong."
Savannah chuckled despite herself, the tension in her shoulders easing just slightly. Maybe Mallory had a point. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to let go just a little.
The night stretched ahead of them, full of possibility. And for the first time in a long time, Savannah considered the idea of stepping outside her comfort zone.
Mallory took another sip of her drink before scanning the patio with interest. "You know," she mused, "we could always make this more interesting."
Savannah raised a brow. "How so?"
Mallory smirked. "A game."
Savannah sighed. "I already don’t like this."
"Oh, hush. It’s simple," Mallory insisted. "If you can go the entire night without sneaking a peek at Mr. Brooding Hotness, I’ll buy all your drinks tomorrow. But if you look—just once—you have to go talk to him."
Savannah scoffed. "That’s ridiculous."
"Is it, though?" Mallory challenged. "Because you’re already thinking about it."
Savannah crossed her arms. "Fine. But when I win, I’m getting the most expensivecocktails on the menu."
Mallory grinned. "Deal. Now, let’s see how long you last."
8
Familiar Eyes
Chasewasmid-bite,hisfork hovering just inches from his mouth when the trio walked by. It wasn’t unusual for him to be half-distracted while eating—after all, the Low-Tide Tavern was as much a place for people-watching as it was for good food and cold beer. But something about this particular moment made his body tense, his senses heighten like a fucking hunter in the wild.
Two women, led by the hostess, strolled past his table, their laughter soft and easy, like the sound of waves rolling in at low tide. He didn’t even realize he was watching them so intently until—
“You good, man?” Jaxon’s voice pulled him back to the present.
Chase blinked, forcing himself to focus, but it was too late. His attention was already hooked.
